Automatic player.



W. R. GRIPPEN. I AUTOMATIC PLAYER.

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Pai aentd Nov. 29,1910.

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W. R. GRIPPEN. AUTOMATIC PLAYER. APPLICATION mum 00129 1906.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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WALTER GRIPPEN; on Boston. messacnvsnrrs, assmN-oa To PIANO COMPANY, or :eosron, MASSACHUSETTS, A oonronnrron or ILLINOIS,

AUTOMATIC PLAYER.

Specification of Letter-s Patent.

Patented Nov. 2.9, 1910.

Application filed October 9, 1906. Serial No. 338,104.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER R. GRIPPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Players, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic players, and has forits objectto provide means for producing gradations in tone independently of the main bellows pressure that is, the pressure produced by the equalizer and feeder or exhaust bellows. Thus by my invention, variations corresponding to pianissimo, piano, forte and fortissimo, and also other gradations, can be obtained so as to bring out the exact expression intended by the composer,'or to follow the interpretation of a famous pianist.

Another object of my invention is to produce solo effects of one grade and the accompaniment effects. of another grade, while a.,further object is to vary the solo and accompaniment effects independently. The gradations and variations can be controlled automatically through the music sheet and tracker board, or can be controlled manually so as to be subject to the will of the operator, or can be subject to both the tracker board'and manual control, so that the operator can modify the tracker board expression if he desires. The control can be made to extend to the entire action, or simply to parts of a divided wind chest.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a governing valve controlling the wind'- chest pressure. This valve is controlledby two opposing forces, ordinarily those of a pneumatic which tends to close the governing valve and a spring that tends to-open it. With such a system the point of" balance and the corresponding position of the govering valve corresponds to a substantially constant valve wind-chest pressure. My invention may be embodied by adding-to this system one or more auxiliary neumatics whose force, when they are in action, op-

poses one and assists the other ofthe two opposing forces above referred to. By this means the point of balance can beinadetocorrespondto another given wind-chest; pressure, and thus: any desired wind ohest pressure from very low tofull pressure-can be obtained. These auxiliary pneumatics can be thrown into or out of action through the tracker board, or by manually operated valves, so that any desired effect can be produced. By employing a series of auxiliary pneumatics of the same size, a corresponding number of" gradations of equal degree can be obtained. By making the auxiliary pneumatics of series. of relatively different sizes, the number of variations that can be obtained can be very-largely increased because -of the many possible combinations.

In the preferred form of my invention, a spring tends to open the governing valve, and the point of balance occurs when the wind-chest pressure corresponds to the softest tone, or pianissimo. In order to get a tone corresponding-to piano, I'throw into action the proper auxiliary pneumatic, acting in opposition to the main governing pneumatic and coacting with the spring. This causes the govermng spring to open further and increase the pressure in the wind-chest. By throwing into action other or' additional auxiliary pneumatics, other variations can be attained.

My invention may be embodied in various .forms in which the variation of the point of balance of two opposing forces is varied by the use of a controllable auxiliary pneumat-i0, the-efiective force which determines the position of the valve beingthe result ant of the force due at a compound pneumatic system, madeup oft-he main and auxiliary neumatics and an opposing mechanical force. In the apparatus hereinafter described, each of the auxiliary pneum-atics is idle when its interioris connected with the external air. While this is not essential in all embodiments, it is the arrangement I prefer, since it is-simpler and produces best results. I also prefer to have the auxiliary pneumatics when in action, act in opposition to the main-governing pneumatic, so that the resultant pneumatic force is equal to the difference between the forces of the main and auxiliary pneumaticsinstead of to their sum. The followingis a description of one embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a'side elevation of -apparatus embodyingmy invention. Fig. is a cross section of the same on the line Fig:

3 is a longitudinal section on the line Y--Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of a detail showin the tracker board and manually operated va ve in section. Fig. 5 represents a portion of a music roll. Fig. 6 represents a portion of a music roll for obtaining solo effects, graded independently of the accompaniment effects. tracker board.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A is the action or wind-chest connec tion to the action.

B is an exhaust passage connected with the usual storage bellows or equalizers (not shown) for the pumping bellows.

C is a pneumatic or regulator bellows util ized to abruptly vary the tension between the equalizer bellows and the action pneumatic. This it does by operating upon a throttle valve E.

D is a link connecting pneumatic C with valve E. This valve as it closes, throttles the passage leading from the action-chest A to the exhaust passage B. F is a spring bearing against a lug G on the back of the pneumatic C, tending to open the pneumatic and the valve E connected thereto. This spring F is on a hinged block f which is adjustable by means of the screw f. By means of this adjustment the tension of the spring F can be .varied as desired. In this embodi ment of my invention the tension of the spring F should be so adjusted that the force of the pneumatic C, due to the reduced pressure within the wind-chest, shall counterbalance the force of the spring F when the valve E is so nearly seated that the action will produce the softest tone desired, or in musical terms, pianissimo. Mechanically connected to the pneumatic 0 through the cross-bars H connected to uprights O C C'tC, are a plurality of auxiliary pneumatics II I I*. These auxiliary pneumatics in the embodiment shown are normally connected with the external air pas-' sage J through the valve J, and at such times are idle, since they have atmospheric pressure both Within and without. When the stem carrying the valve J is raised so as to close that valve and open the valve K, the interior of the pneumatic I (Fig. 2) is connected with a low pressure passage which is preferably connected directly to the bellows chamber B, as shown, the pneumatic I being vacuumized, the atmospheric pressure exerts a force which is in opposition to the force exerted by the pneumatic O and coacts with the spring F. The result of this is that the forces of the pneumatic I" and the spring F working together are enabled to further open the valve E and allow a freer as'sage between the wind-chest A and the ellows chest B.

The valves J and K are controlled through the duct M. When the duct M is closed,

Fig. 7 is a section of a modified the pressure on both sides of the diaphragm N is equal to that in B, since the passage Q is connected directly thereto by the duct P and the space Q beneath the diaphragm is connected thereto by the vent When the duct M is open to atmospheric pressure, the pressure in the chamber Q, exceeds that in the passage 0, with the result that the diaphragm N is raised. The raising of this diaphragm lifts the button-valve B so as to disconnect the passage S from the passage 0, and connect it with the atmosphere through the passage T. This produces atmospheric pressure in the space beneath the diaphragm U and since the passage L is connected through the duct P with the bellows pressure at B, the diaphragm U is raised and shifts the valves J and K so that the valve J is closed and the valve K is open. This opening of the valve K connects the interior of the pneumatic I with the bellows pressure chamber L.

The pneumatics I I --I are all controlled in a similar manner, each having a set of valves and diaphragms corresponding to those shown in Fig. 2. The pneumatics II I I*, while they might be made of the same size are made of different sizes so that they shall exert difierent amount of force. By reason of this difi'erence very many gradations in tone can be produced by varying the combinations of all or some of these auxiliary pneumatics with the main pneumatic.

Inorder to control the auxiliary pneumatics, the duct M and the ducts M?M M corresponding thereto, and leading from the other auxiliary pneumatics, are connected with the tracker board V, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. An extension of these ducts is also connected with manually operated valves WW W -VV*. By depressing one or more of these valves the corresponding ducts are opened to the atmosphere and the corresponding auxiliary pneumatics are brought into action. The tracker board connections are controlled by groups of perforations in the music rollcorresponding to diiferent combinations of tracker board openings. When the tracker board alone is to be relied upon, the manually operated valves are left untouched, and the tracker board connection is opened and closed by' the openings V in the music roll. These openings V strength, formed by a series of small perforations (see Fig. 5) and the passages V in the tracker board are of such area as to span the bond or web between two of such perforations, thus making the two in effect one. A stop cock V for closing all the duct connections with the tracker board, is provided, so that the tracker board control can be entirely out oif in case it is desired to rely solely on the manually operated valves, or

are, for the'purposes of.

to use music rolls-whichdo not extend over the side perforations.

By the use of suitable marginal perforations V in the music sheet, as shown in Fig. 5, the operation of the auxiliary pneumatics can be automatically controlled as desired, to produce the intended gradations in expression. The perforations as arranged in that section of the sheet shown in Fig. 5 would in practice first cause the pneumatic I alone to be actuated. This would be followed by the action of the auxiliary I alone. After this, both the auxiliaries I and I will come into action. This would be followed by I I and I and this would be followed by the full action. Various other intermediate changes can be produced by other combinations.

By the use of a suitably cut music-roll, solo effects can be produced, such, for instance, a solo eflect in mezzoforte and an accompaniment in piano or pianissimo, and, moreover, gradations can be obtained in either the solo or the accompaniment effect, or in both. Moreover, the introduction can be played with another effect. Thus by the sheet shown in Fig. 6 the notes ahead of the side perforations 3 are introductory notes whose power is determined by the pneumatic I controlled by the perforations 5.

In producing solo effects in mezzo-forte and accompaniments in pianissimo, for instance, I advance the solo note slightly ahead of the accompaniment note. The perfora tions 1-1-1 represent solo notes, and 2'-22 represent accompaniment notes. This is in accordance with my invention described in my Patent N 0. 803,153, granted Oct. 31, 1905. Just ahead of the solo notes I make side perforations 3 3 3 &c. in the sheet for controlling the auxiliary pneumatics, so as to accentuate the solo notes, making in the form shown, two such perforations 3 for oroducing a mezzo-forte solo effect. There eing no intermediate perforations between these perforations which accentuate the solo notes and the solo'ac centuating'perforations 3, the accompaniment will be of a pianissimoeifect.

If it is desired to change so as to have the accompaniment played with a piano effect, I form in addition to the two solo note accentuating perforations 3, a single side perforation 4t which uncovers the tracker board just in advance of its accompaniment perforations 2. If I wish to have the solo note produced with a forte effect and the accompaniment notes produced with a mezzo-forte effect, I make three perforations, which accentuate the solo note and two perforations which accentuate the accompaniment notes, as shown at 3 and 4 respectively.

By the perforations 3 and 4: I obtain a fortissimo solo eflect and a forte accompaniment effect, and by the perforations 3" alone I obtain a fortissimo solo effect with a pianissimo accompaniment effect. Independent gradations are thus obtained in either the solo or accompaniment notes or both. By properly perforating the sheets, I can use any combination of the auxiliary pneumatics in producing the solo effects and also use any other combination of them for producing the accompaniment effects.

If a roll of music is cut for accompaniment in pianissimo and it is desired that the accompaniment have a piano effect, this can be accomplished by depressing the manually operated valve W. By depressing others of the manually operated valves, the accompaniment can be made to have any other desired effect such as mezzoforte or forte.

In producing solo and accompaniment effects, it is not necessary to have a widemouthed opening in the tracker-board. Thus, with a sheet such as shown in Fig. 6, the opening in the tracker-board may be narrow, as shown at V in Fig. 7. WVhen a wide-mouthed tracker-board is used for graded solo notes, its opening V must be of such proportions relatively to the side permary function is to produce a quick change of tension in the action pneumatic as desired over that found in the storage or equalizer bellows. This it does by the throttle E in the passage between the usual storage bellows and the action pneumatic and providing devices to variably control said throttle.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic player, action pneumatics, a wind-way having a passage leading to said action pneumatics, a collapsible pneumatic regulator therefor operated in one direction by a difference in air tension between the inside and outside of said regulator, said wind-way passage extending;

through said regulator, a valve to control the passage of air through said regulator, means of connection between saidregulator and said valve whereby the latter will be operated thereby, means for acting upon the regulator in opposition to the tension of air, sald means comprising a plurality of auxiliary pneumatics, passages for connecting said auxiliary pneumatics with said windway, valves for said passages, pneumatics for said valves, and a. tracker-board having special ducts leading to the last mentioned pneumatics for operating the latter automatically.

2. In an automatic player, action pneumatics, a wind-way having a passage leading to said action pneumatics, a collapsible pneumatic regulator therefor operated in one direction by a difference in air tension between the inside and outside of said regulator, said wind-way passage extending through said regulator, a valve to control the passage of air through said regulator, means of connection between said regulator and said valve whereby the latter will be operated thereby, means for acting upon the regulator in opposition to the tension of air, said means comprising a plurality of auxiliary pneumatics, passages for connecting said auxiliary pneumatics with said windway, valves for said passages, pneumatics for said valves, a trackerboard having special ducts leading to the last mentioned pneumatics for operating the latter automatically, and auxiliary means for manually controlling the action of the last mentioned pneumatics.

3. In an automatic player, action pneumatics,- a wind-way having a passage leading to said action pneumatics, a collapsible. pneumatic regulator therefor operated in one direction by a difference in air tension between the inside and outside of said regulator, said wind-way passage extending through said regulator, a valve to control the passage of air through said regulator, means of connection between said regulator and said valve whereby the latter will be operated thereby means for acting upon the regulator in opposition to the tension of air, said means comprising a plurality of auxiliary pneumatics, passages for connecting said auxiliary pneumatics with said windway, valves for said passages, pneumatics for said valves, and a tracker-board having special ducts leading to the last mentioned pneumatics for operating the latter automatically, said auxiliary pneumatics being of difierent power.

4. In an automatic player, action pneumatics, a wind-way having a passage lead ing to said action pneumatics, a collapsible pneumatic regulator therefor operated in one direction by a difference in air tension between the inside and outside of said regulator, said wind-way passage extending through said regulator, a valve to control the passage of air through said regulator,

means of connection between said regulator and said valve whereby the latter will be operated thereby, means for acting upon the regulator in opposition to the tension of air, said means comprising a plurality of auxiliary pneumatics of different resistance, passages for connecting said auxiliary pneumatics with said windway, valves for said passages, pneumatics for said valves, and a tracker-board having special ducts leading to the last mentioned pneumatics for operating the latter automatically.

5. In an automatic player, action pneumatics, an action wind-chest common to both solo and accompaniment action pneumatics, means for producing both solo and accompaniment effects by the pressure in said common chest, and means for automatically varying the power of the solo effect independently of the accompaniment effect.

6. In an automatic player, action pneumatics, an action wind-chest common to both solo and accompaniment action pneumatics, means for producing both solo and accompaniment effects by the pressure in said common chest, and means for automatically varying the power of the accompaniment effectindependently of the solo effect.

7. In an automatic player, action pneumatics, an action wind-chest common to both solo and accompaniment action pneumatics, means for producing both solo and accompaniment efiects by the pressure in said common chest, and means for automatically varying the power of both the solo effect and also the accompaniment effect, each independently of the other.

8. In an automatic player, an action chest, means for emphasizing selected notes over other notes produced from the said action chest and means for automatically changing the power of such selected notes while main taining an emphasis thereon.

9. In an automatic player, an action chest, means for emphasizing selected notes over. other notes produced by the said. action chest and automatically controlled means for varying the power of such selected notes while maintaining an emphasis thereon.

10. In an automatic player, an action chest, means for emphasizing selected notes over other notes produced by the said action chest and manually and automatically controlled means for varying the power of all such selected notes while maintaining an emphasis thereon.

WALTER R. .CRIPPEN. Witnesses:

CLARENCE H. KNOWLTON, ALFRED D. HURD. 

